Town of Pelham crossing guard gears up for 18th year

Eighteen years ago, Violet Steingart decided to ‘give it a try’. Eighteen years later, she’s in the exact same spot she was on day one.

The well-recognized A.K. Wigg crossing guard has enjoyed a well-deserved summer vacation but is ready to get back to her post on Haist Street when the kids return to school on September 5.

“I’ve talked to a few kids already and they’re excited too,” she said. “I was walking with my husband and I saw a little guy in the car with his mom and she had to slow down because he’s shouting out the back window, ‘Violet, see you on Tuesday!’.”

Steingart is one of 10 crossing guards employed by the Town of Pelham (eight regular and two reserve), her A.K. Wigg post one of three serving elementary schools (St. Alexander and Glynn A. Green being the other two).

With hundreds of children crossing the roads each day, back to school is more than just students returning to their own educations, it’s a time for motorist re-education on traffic safety, especially in school zones, where the maximum speed limit is 40 km/h.

“The biggest challenge, every year, is the traffic,” said Steingart. “I’ve always seen weird things: eating cereal, reading the newspaper, brushing your teeth, shaving, and now [it’s technology] you can tell they’ve got their heads down and you know they don’t’ see anything, and that’s scary.”

To assist the crossing guards in alerting motorist of school zones, the Town of Pelham has installed new school zone maximum speed signs at Wellington Heights, A.K. Wigg, and Glynn A. Green; the remaining school zones in Pelham utilize flashing school zone maximum speed signs.

In addition, the Town has installed new pedestrian crossovers (PXO) at Wellington Heights and upgraded the existing crossing at St. Ann’s. The PXOs are designed to improve pedestrian safety by providing pedestrians the right of way when crossing a road, requiring a vehicle to stop, a requirement that is enforceable under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.

The additional awareness measures are sure to help, but Steingart wants everyone to remember just one simple rule: slow down.

“Realize you’re in a school zone,” she said. “There’s bound to be kids around and they’re not always paying attention, just slow down.”

Rain or shine Steingart and all the guards will be out to greet new and familiar faces for another year, something that, according to Steingart, never gets old.

“You never get anything more honest than kids – I just love them and there always seems to be a batch that you hate seeing them go; in June every year I’m in tears, I mean how amazing is that.”

And for anyone who has considered joining the crossing guard ranks in Pelham, Steingart says it’s worth it.

“It’s addictive and you get so much out of it - I think we’re the best treated crossing guards around to tell you the truth,” she said. “Honestly, just give it a try.”

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DYK:

• All guards complete annual training at the end of August which involves a three-hour in-house presentation that reviews safety requirements and protocols, proper crossing procedures, what to do in emergencies, dealing with upset motorists, review of shift times, and more.
• Guards are provided with vests, clothing, and hand-held stop signs.
• PXOs are considered a major improvement for pedestrian mobility, however they require a change in motorist culture that will take time to adapt and adhere to.
• Pelham is one of the first municipalities in Niagara to install the new PXO signs.
• For more information on PXOs visit:  http://www.niagararegion.ca/living/roads/pedestrian-crossovers.aspx